Head of the National Association of building contractors, Ahmed Ben Kaoud, warned from the rise in the prices of iron in the coming months because the company of “Arcelor Mittal” Annaba, east of Algeria, which monopolizes the iron production in Algeria and exports more than 70% of its production abroad despite the existence of a large demand on Algeria’s reinforcing iron.

• He also criticized Arcelor Mittal because it exports its production to foreign markets despite Algeria gives it electricity and natural gas with very low prices compared with the international market prices. However, the Algerian government resorted to importing iron from abroad in order to supply the local market which consumes 5 million tons annually during the recent years driven by the large housing and infrastructure projects which were launched by the government.
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• “The price of one ton of iron, currently estimated at about 45.000 dinars, is very likely to rise again to levels that caused disorder last year after the absence of control in the markets and transparent register of requirements which obliged the foreign companies that are investing in Algeria to provide its market with this strategic product “iron” despite these companies were granted excellent privileges, including large reduction of taxes.